Downsizing strategies and me… mmm…

Thinking about it and actually getting rid of stuff are two different things. Reading about strategies is good. But it is not actually doing it.

And up until recently, my approach has been led by the meanderings of my mind and anything my eyes rest on.

So, I have started with my wardrobe. It is easier than my shoes… At first, I was distracted. What got me started was a hunt for some clothes to pack to take to Hawaii. I needed to pack for a business trip. Five outfits that are smart casual, not corporate and not my ever-ready Lana Jane yoga pants. Oh, an did I say it needs to fit me. So, I am rummaging and pulling things out of my cupboard. In front of the mirror and the occasional second opinion. Thumbs up, thumbs down.

A couple thoughts…

OMG, I know I have grown out of a few things but am I ready to see the truth… I tried on a few outfits. Doing OK. Some look good, even look better with a bit of weight on. Pleasant surprise. And then, OMG what was I thinking. I am sure it looked better when I purchased it.

That dress easily made the discard pile.

More distractions, a hem needs mending, a dress needs a slight alteration. FYI, I love altering my clothes. I ask myself, where will my sewing machine fit on the boat… I think I know.

Then I remember the shirt of Martin’s that I was converting from long to short sleeved. Already pinned ready to stich. That won’t take long. The shirt is special to me. He wore it on our first dates. And he won’t let me throw out the heels I was wearing on the day we meet.

OK, back to his shirt. I stich it up. Trim the threads. And look at my handy work. I had put a funky fold on the sleeve. LOL. I have put the funky fold on the inside. Ah shit… Have I done the same to the other sleeve? A sigh of relief. The funky fold is on the inside on the other sleeve as well. Obviously, I am not going to unpick it now. I have work to do… Job done, now back to downsizing…

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OK, so I have started seriously reading about how to downsize in the hope to find a strategy that works for me.

Que music The Byrds singing “Turn, turn, turn…”
(To everything there is a season. Turn, turn, turn)

My go to resources have been:

Book #1 – “Secrets of Simplicity, learn to live better with less”, by Mary Carlomagno. Purchased at Angus and Robertson many, many, many years ago.

Book #2 – “The life-changing magic of tidying” by Marie Kondo. Purchased at The Mad Hatters Book store in Manly (Brisbane). It is a funky and fun bookstore. Check it out and support an awesome small business.

The former is a beautifully written and illustrated book that takes more of a workbook approach to simplifying your life. I like it. I have always liked this book. It is one book I have lent out a few times and always made sure it comes home again. Perhaps I knew I would need it one day. I was never quite game enough to place a mark on the pages of the workbook, until now. And I have started… a little nervous I must confess.

The latter takes a much simpler approach. My takeaways are:
– Keep only what you love
– Discard all at once, by category.
– Don’t tell family

To the latter point, Martin came home from work and saw the clothes neatly folded and the discard pile on the floor (me in the middle of my chaos) and I had put aside two jumpers that he had purchased for me. And asked him if he minded if I rehomed them. He said something along the lines of do you really want to get rid of them. It might be cold on the boat. To which I replied, Yeh, I know, I have a couple of others, these ones are bulky. And, they were…

No piecemeal approaches here.

So I pulled out all my T-shirts, Night wear and Winter stuff (these were the categories) out of the cupboard and on to the floor.

It was surprisingly easy. The wheelie bin is almost full. I have three big bags for Vinnies. Here’s the kicker, I have done this before and never ended up taking the clothes to Vinnies. They kick around in the back of the car, sit under the house and where-ever else I put them in some sort of ‘just-in-case’ avoidance strategy.

I have learnt over the last 18 months or so that I like to have a just-in-case back-up strategy. For everything… And it is great as a change manager to have a plan b. However, my wardrobe…

So, what’s going to be different this time, I guess two things.

The irrefutable fact that we are moving on to the boat. Sooner rather than later
I have phoned a friend… Not a girlfriend who I may be tempted to go through the clothes with; but a male friend, who will drop the bags off to Vinnies some-time today.

Thanks Bill…

Music, The Byrds fading into the background..
(A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late)